Agro-Residue of Millet as A Resource for Green Energy and Chemical Materials
Keywords:
Millet agro-residues, Biofuel, Green energy, Lignocellulosic biomassAbstract
The growing global energy demand and increasing environmental degradation have emphasized the need for sustainable and renewable energy sources. Agricultural residues, often considered waste, represent a significant untapped resource for bioenergy and chemical feedstock. Among these, millet agro-residues exhibit unique potential due to their abundant availability, high lignocellulosic content, and cost-effectiveness. This research investigates the valorization of millet residues for green energy production and chemical material synthesis, providing a comprehensive framework for their conversion into biofuels and industrial chemicals. The study synthesizes existing literature on biomass gasification, pyrolysis, and integrated bio-refinery approaches, highlighting the technical, economic, and environmental implications of using millet residues as feedstock (Deshwal & Singh, 2025). Analytical comparison of various conversion techniques demonstrates the relative efficiency, energy yield, and feasibility of thermochemical and biochemical processes, while considering the operational constraints and optimization strategies. The paper also examines the socio-economic and environmental benefits of millet residue utilization, including reduced dependency on fossil fuels, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced rural energy security. The research identifies key knowledge gaps, particularly in scaling laboratory findings to commercial applications, integration with existing energy infrastructures, and optimization of residue collection and pre-treatment methods. Furthermore, techno-economic analyses reveal that millet residues offer a competitive advantage over other biomass sources due to lower acquisition costs and minimal processing requirements. Critical evaluation of prior studies indicates that while theoretical potential is significant, practical implementation requires comprehensive policy support, stakeholder engagement, and investment in technological development. This study contributes to the growing discourse on circular bioeconomy and sustainable energy strategies by positioning millet residues as a dual-purpose feedstock for both energy and chemical industries. By providing a systematic assessment of conversion technologies, energy yield optimization, and environmental trade-offs, the research offers actionable insights for academics, industry stakeholders, and policymakers aiming to transition toward low-carbon and resource-efficient bioenergy systems.
References
1. Basu P. Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis. Elsevier Inc.; 2010.
2. Bingwu Kong. Research on the management strategy of green energy enterprises in China [D]. Tianjin University, 2012.
3. Deepak Sangroya, Jogendra Kumar Nayak. Factors influencing buying behaviour of green energy consumer [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 151.
4. Deshwal, R.K., Singh, S.P. (2025). Millet Waste as an Inexpensive Feedstock for Biofuel and Chemicals. In: Kumari, A., Rai, M.P., Veeramuthu, A., Mishra, A. (eds) Valorization of Solid Wastes to Biofuels and Chemical Products for Sustainable World. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-8594-3_16
5. F. Urban, R. M. J. Benders, H. C. Moll. Renewable and low-carbon energies as mitigation options of climate change for China [J]. Climatic Change, 2009 (94).
6. Gert Jan Kramer, Martin Haigh. No quick switch to low-carbon energy [J]. Nature, 2009 (462).
7. Hengwei Liu, Kelly Sims Gallagher. Catalyzing strategic transformation to a low-carbon: A CCS roadmap for China [J]. Energy Policy, 2010 (38).
8. Jackson RB, Le Quere C, Andrew RM, Canadell JG, Korsbakken JI, Liu Z, et al. Global energy growth is outpacing decarbonization. Environ Res Lett., 2018, 13, pp. 2–8.
9. McKendry P. Energy production from biomass (part 3): Gasification technologies. Bioresour Technol., 2002, 83, pp. 55–63.
10. Parthasarathy P, Sheeba KN. Combined slow pyrolysis and steam gasification of biomass for hydrogen generation---a review. Int J Energy Res., 2015, 39, pp. 147–164.
11. Yazdanpanah Jahromi MA, Atashkari K, Kalteh M. Development of a high-temperature two-stage entrained flow gasifier model for the process of biomass gasification and syngas formation. Int J Energy Res., 2019, 43, pp. 5864–5878.
12. Zhiqing Lin, Hongzhan Lin. 2011 research on the development of China’s energy environment: Green Energy: leading the future [J]. Chinese Soft Science, 2011 (S1): 49–60.
